A Collapse in The Hague

Updated Nov. 27, 2000 12:01 a.m. ET

The U.N. conference on climate collapsed this weekend at The Hague because the ecological zealots who hold the French and German governments hostage rejected a desperate concession by the Clinton Administration. The world can breathe a deep sigh of relief.

"I'm gutted. The talks are off. They are all gone," roared a visibly exhausted and dejected British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as he abruptly left the conference late Saturday, after his Continental allies shredded the compromise he had struck with...